The Works is the fourth studio album by the English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Nik Kershaw. It was released in 1989 and was the last album he created for MCA Records. Kershaw chose the album's title as he felt the album represented "the collected works of Nik Kershaw". He did not release any new solo material until 15 Minutes, 10 years later.
The album was not commercially successful, though the lead single "One Step Ahead" reached No. #55 in the UK.[5] "Elisabeth's Eyes", the second and final single, failed to chart altogether.
Although the album was produced by Peter Wolf and co-produced by Brian Malouf, both singles were written shortly after Kershaw became unhappy with Wolf's production and his direction for the album. They were produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn, with the two also re-working the production of the entire album, earning them an additional production credit.[6]
After its original release, the album remained out of print on any format for years. However, in November 2006, the album became available via online MP3 download on major sites such as Amazon[7] and iTunes.[8]
In an interview of the time, Kershaw spoke of the album's creation and production:
"In April 1987 I finished touring, after that I wrote songs for the new album. In August of that year I went to Los Angeles to record The Works album in four months with producer Peter Wolf. Back home in England I listened to the album and discovered that I hated it. I could never have promoted that album. How could I tell the people: it's a great product, buy it!, if I wouldn't have bought it myself. So I quickly wrote two more songs, among which was "One Step Ahead", and I did a lot all over again with Julian Mendelsohn in London. Eventually the record was only finished last year in October. But I must say that I'm a whole lot happier about it now."
Speaking of working with Wolf, Kershaw said:
"American producers are used to having total control over their production. But I wanted to have a say about my own songs myself. Americans want predictable songs and sounds whereas I chose the opposite. We have been fighting like cats and dogs in that studio, we were constantly clashing. In the end we decided to make a compromise, but with the result that neither of us was happy with the final result. It was all very annoying, but I also learned from it."[9][10]
The track "One World" was later included on Kershaw's 1991 compilation album The Collection,[11] while the German vinyl and Japanese CD editions of the compilation featured a re-recorded version of the track instead. In recent years, Kershaw stated via his Q&A sessions "Drum Talk" that the re-recorded version was to be a single after the release of "Elisabeth's Eyes", however this never materialised as he and the record label MCA parted company. In 1991, English pop singer Chesney Hawkes covered the song for his debut studio album Buddy's Song and it also appeared as the B-side to his third single "Secrets of the Heart".[12] In the same year, Hawkes had scored a number one hit in the UK with the Nik Kershaw-penned song "The One and Only".[13]
Track listingedit
All songs are written by Nik Kershaw, except where noted.
^"iTunes - Music - The Works by Nik Kershaw". Itunes.apple.com. 1 March 1958. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
^"The big Nik Kershaw interview". www.krissharmsworth.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
^ Posted by Krissnikkers at 11:14 am. "Translations » Nik Kershaw Fan Website". Krissharmsworth.com. Archived from the original on 27 January 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^"Nik Kershaw - The Collection (CD) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
^"Chesney Hawkes - Secrets Of The Heart (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
^"The Official Charts Company - The One And Only by Chesney Hawkes Search". The Official Charts Company. 6 May 2013.
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The Works is the fourth studio album by the English singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist Nik Kershaw It was released in 1989 and was the last album he created for MCA Records Kershaw chose the album s title as he felt the album represented the collected works of Nik Kershaw He did not release any new solo material until 15 Minutes 10 years later The WorksStudio album by Nik KershawReleased22 May 1989 1989 05 22 RecordedAugust 1987 October 1988StudioCan Am Recorders Tarzana California Sarm West Studios London Sarm East Studios London Rumbo Recorders Canoga Park California Ground Control Santa Monica California Secret Sound Woodland Hills California GenreNew wave pop rockLength42 13LabelMCAProducerNik Kershaw Peter Wolf Julian MendelsohnNik Kershaw chronologyRadio Musicola 1986 The Works 1989 The Best of Nik Kershaw 1993 Singles from The Works One Step Ahead Released 23 January 1989 1 Elisabeth s Eyes Released 24 April 1989 2 Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 3 Smash Hits 4 The album was not commercially successful though the lead single One Step Ahead reached No 55 in the UK 5 Elisabeth s Eyes the second and final single failed to chart altogether Although the album was produced by Peter Wolf and co produced by Brian Malouf both singles were written shortly after Kershaw became unhappy with Wolf s production and his direction for the album They were produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn with the two also re working the production of the entire album earning them an additional production credit 6 After its original release the album remained out of print on any format for years However in November 2006 the album became available via online MP3 download on major sites such as Amazon 7 and iTunes 8 Contents 1 Background 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 4 Singles 5 References 6 External linksBackground editIn an interview of the time Kershaw spoke of the album s creation and production In April 1987 I finished touring after that I wrote songs for the new album In August of that year I went to Los Angeles to record The Works album in four months with producer Peter Wolf Back home in England I listened to the album and discovered that I hated it I could never have promoted that album How could I tell the people it s a great product buy it if I wouldn t have bought it myself So I quickly wrote two more songs among which was One Step Ahead and I did a lot all over again with Julian Mendelsohn in London Eventually the record was only finished last year in October But I must say that I m a whole lot happier about it now Speaking of working with Wolf Kershaw said American producers are used to having total control over their production But I wanted to have a say about my own songs myself Americans want predictable songs and sounds whereas I chose the opposite We have been fighting like cats and dogs in that studio we were constantly clashing In the end we decided to make a compromise but with the result that neither of us was happy with the final result It was all very annoying but I also learned from it 9 10 The track One World was later included on Kershaw s 1991 compilation album The Collection 11 while the German vinyl and Japanese CD editions of the compilation featured a re recorded version of the track instead In recent years Kershaw stated via his Q amp A sessions Drum Talk that the re recorded version was to be a single after the release of Elisabeth s Eyes however this never materialised as he and the record label MCA parted company In 1991 English pop singer Chesney Hawkes covered the song for his debut studio album Buddy s Song and it also appeared as the B side to his third single Secrets of the Heart 12 In the same year Hawkes had scored a number one hit in the UK with the Nik Kershaw penned song The One and Only 13 Track listing editAll songs are written by Nik Kershaw except where noted Side one One Step Ahead 3 53 Elisabeth s Eyes 4 40 Take My Place 4 04 Wounded Knee 3 53 Cowboys amp Indians 3 52 Side two One World Nik Kershaw Peter Wolf 4 39 Don t Ask Me 4 02 Burning at Both Ends 4 05 Lady on the Phone Kershaw Wolf 4 09 Walkabout 4 56Personnel editNik Kershaw vocals guitar keyboards programming arrangements Peter Wolf keyboards synthesizer arrangements Dave Clayton keyboards Paul Wix Wickens keyboards Vinnie Colaiuta drums Paulinho Da Costa percussion Jeff Porcaro drums on Walkabout Dan Higgins tenor alto and baritone saxophone Larry Williams tenor saxophone Gary Grant trumpet Jerry Hey trumpet Charles Loper trombone Gary Maughan programming Ina Wolf Maxi Anderson Michael McDonald Nadirah Ali Phillip Ingram Sheri Kershaw Siedah Garrett backing vocalsSingles edit One Step Ahead UK 55 B side When I Grow Up Elisabeth s Eyes B side My Friend John References edit Strymowicz Anita 28 January 1989 A amp R Talent Growing up in public PDF Music Week p 20 Retrieved 8 April 2022 via World Radio History Fitzsymons Paddy 23 April 1989 Night Life Holly hits the right note Sunday Life p 24 The Works at AllMusic Smash Hits magazine Review LPs Ian Cranna 31 May 1989 page 61 The Official Charts Company One Step Ahead by Nik Kershaw Search The Official Charts Company 6 May 2013 Images for Nik Kershaw The Works Discogs com Retrieved 10 September 2012 The Works Nik Kershaw Amazon co uk MP3 Downloads Amazon co uk Retrieved 10 September 2012 iTunes Music The Works by Nik Kershaw Itunes apple com 1 March 1958 Retrieved 10 September 2012 The big Nik Kershaw interview www krissharmsworth com Archived from the original on 1 December 2012 Retrieved 10 September 2012 Posted by Krissnikkers at 11 14 am Translations Nik Kershaw Fan Website Krissharmsworth com Archived from the original on 27 January 2013 Retrieved 10 September 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Nik Kershaw The Collection CD at Discogs Discogs com Retrieved 10 September 2012 Chesney Hawkes Secrets Of The Heart Vinyl at Discogs Discogs com Retrieved 10 September 2012 The Official Charts Company The One And Only by Chesney Hawkes Search The Official Charts Company 6 May 2013 External links editThe Works at Discogs list of releases The Works lyrics http www kershaw net lyrics works html Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Works Nik Kershaw album amp oldid 1206116962, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
